The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-21
PASTOR TITUS ACCUSED.
A SISTER OF HIS FLOCK CHARGES HIM
WITH GROSS IMPROPRiETT.
The Charges Made Before tho Church Truss
h. tees, whe Have Ordered an investigates
Tho Rnator Profaata his Innocence.

Win ohOOD
The Charges Made Before the Church Trus.
h. tees, whe Have Ordered an InvestiEatisn
The Pastor Protests his innocence.
Boston, Aug. 2o.-The scandal involving
the Rev. L. A. Titus, pastor OF the Flint Street.
Methodist Church OF Somervillc promises to
develop a sensational expose. The case, upon
which oflcial charges have boon based. rests
upon the simple statement OF one OF the pas
tors nock and is Offset by the pastors
sweeping denial: but the case Is made
more serious by tho fact that other
damaging stories are In circulation, and that
he has several times before in his ministerial
career boon similarly accused. All the persons
involved stand high In society. The church u
the most prominent one in Somerville. and
the pastor has been held In tho HIGHEST respect
during the year and half that he has been
located there.
The Rev. Mr.. Titus Is in the prime Of life. and
Of dignifled. almost imposing, presence. he
is fully so years OF age. His hair and heavy
beard are turning gray. but his tall. massive
frame Is unbent. and he Is apparently In the
best vigor Of manhood. He has lived in somer.
vile with his wife only. his children. three In
number. having married and settled elsewhere.
He has been by no means familiar man With
his parishioners, the only criticism against him
being that no has been too reserved and minis.
terial out OF the pulpit. His accuser is Mrs.
Agnes Warner. the widowed daughter OF Hiram
T. Bishop, wealthy manufacturer Of ladders,
35 years old. and. as far as appearances 90, shs
is certainly not attractive.
Presiding Elder OF the district asking him to
call upon her and listcn to an important Conn
Rmunieattop day or two later H Elder Chad.
asked him to bring complaint against her
pastor before the proper ne seslesisstISal apthor.
:1nSss; + sh H. sssss!a lin hs a
snethep pur po '' Mrs Warner SAID she
l1dis1anty rspulssd all arguments that b
turned again three or four days later; when tho
She said that he made to her admissions OF his
conduct in other places boring thereby TO In.
that written charges be PREFERRED ED against him
Trustees ana stewards Of the Church at thej
NH se eds9s ssd the proposition and on
Monday evening last The case was brought BE-.
w Be-
Del denial sayiDs that he e0f had called paro
IN the j, SSapacity OF q minister. and had had
sat
character, and behavior. and saw. no motive
that could inspire such unwarranted charger
unless 1t was an insane attempt at blackmaiL
Investigation to a council composed Of nine
and Sesia It's neuirles one week from s Mondas
4 member Of the Board who heard the fact!
plenty p money at her 40 disposal. ana
Re no She reason Is not to more
telligent than the average woman. :!
don T Htsss Me At T hs mesns
Of the Board the other night. the charges seem
IN thu sds oDsn
the curtains up. the doors open. and. presume:
ss 0e SisRs 'o Gn s ss for ESas
snR sdeh .aRs 'ysn anahss
ons Mrs. Warner Is not Se imam whose ShseH per:
man Of Mr, Iitus's refined, tastes She weighs
probably ESQ pounds; and. not being over
n'h ash her ns H5e is far from
yersation not particularly brilliant. yet she is
sonS a far % and son sr Urd hS g:
Ths ksy H. Fftas has BEEN ior several day.
Grove. but he left there last night, saying he
vas going In search OF counsel to defend him.
Kss g no sm nhsd Of Ms hs hs
clergyman. who will probably be- pember q
the dnyesdisatng e9Gne The Rev Mr. Smith
to- essa anxious
M mn Fa aSHd hs si aon
whether you have been acquainted with tha
will sc yon no SAID
heard sbof it. but
tie whole affair; saying in eonelusion; 81
Of The ne charge az a. a. an angel hsavsn aaa
ssf Ss s%
that you have had quite large experience ID
u IN my case and deiend me. am in need d
sna %ben and arc
nINow;" continued Mr. smith, II have by
in WHICH
to this. but wheneverI have had such disa-
Greenble duty to perform have, by careful IN.
vestixation at the outset. assured myself OF the
innocence Of the suspected person, else would
not on an, account hayo been connected with
Il. mer Of M
difficulty and though feel at heart that h, he
stake my Judgment q, purely sentimental. or
told him that i could not aid him" $50.
unhecomng conduct have Heretofore been
| mnde against Mr.. Titus 7" WIS asked.
| Mr.. Smith hesitated, and then said: "Cf per-
sonal knowledge | know nothing but have
We're acquainted with the facts. that while
| holding pastoral some years ago here in
| Massachusetts Mr.. Titus was arragned on the
! charge Of betrayinG woman, or something OF
that sort, but he was found not guilty. II my
Il was learned at Gloucester to-day that
| while n pastor In that city few years ago q
| female member of the flock preferred charges
OF undue intimacy against Mr.. Titus. Nothing
came Of Il, however, md while some believed
in his entire innocence, still there were many
who thought Titus guilty of tho charge pre-
ferred. There was another charge OF undue
intimacy preferred by another woman Of his
Hook but the matter was hushed up at tina
the case at the time gives It as his opinion thai
the case was one Of blackmail.
An Innocent Man Sentenced to Death.
ATLANTA Aug 2O-Eor six waaka Hanr.